Assembling apparatus and assembling method for assembling electrode connector of electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

An assembling apparatus and an assembling method for automatically assembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette are provided according to the present application. The assembling apparatus includes a rotating disk, a rotating disk driving device, material fixing seats, a first material sensing area, a sensor, a material picking arm and a controller. The electrode connector of the electronic cigarette may be assembled automatically by the material picking arm, which reduces the labor efforts and improves the efficiency and also saves the cost. Further, during the assembling operation, the material picking arms picks up the material and places the material on the material fixing seat to achieve the assembling operation, thereby improving the precision during the assembling operation, and avoiding material wastage caused by inaccurate operation or excessive force being applied, and further avoiding unnecessary waste.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 ofPCT/CN2014/077679, filed May 16, 2014, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the technical field of electroniccigarettes, and particularly to an assembling apparatus and anassembling method for automatically assembling an electrode connector ofan electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic cigarette in the conventionaltechnology includes an atomizer 110 for atomizing cigarette liquid toform smoke to be inhaled by a user, and a battery rod assembly 120 forsupplying power to the atomizer 110. The atomizer 110 is provided withan atomizer electrode connector having atomizer electrodes, and thebattery rod assembly is provided with a battery rod electrode connectorhaving battery rod electrodes. The atomizer electrode connector isconnected to the battery rod electrode connector, to realize theelectrical connection between the atomizer electrodes and the batteryrod electrodes, that is, the mechanical connection and electricalconnection between the atomizer 110 and the battery rod assembly 120 areachieved by the connection between the atomizer electrode connector andthe battery rod electrode connector which act as electrode connectors ofthe electronic cigarette.

The atomizer electrode connector includes an outer electrode 111, aninner electrode 112 inserted in the outer electrode 111, and aninsulating ring 113 located between the outer electrode 111 and theinner electrode 112. The battery rod electrode connector includes anouter electrode 121, an inner electrode 122 inserted in the outerelectrode 121, and an insulating ring 123 located between the outerelectrode 121 and the inner electrode 122.

In the conventional technology, the electrode connectors of theelectronic cigarette are generally assembled manually on an assemblyline, and the whole assembly line of the electrode connectors of theelectronic cigarette requires three to four workers.

The conventional manual assembly is relatively slow, has a lowefficiency and a huge waste of labor, which results in a largeconsumption of production cost, and a certain risk to the sanitation offinished products. Furthermore, if the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is contaminated, the normal power supply of thebattery rod assembly 120 to the atomizer 110 will be adversely affected.In addition, the conventional assembly has a poor precision, andmaterials are apt to be damaged during assembling operation, whichcauses waste of materials and a high production cost. Further, in anassembled electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, the materialsare mounted loosely, which may adversely affect the service life of theelectronic cigarette and the user experience.

SUMMARY

An assembling apparatus and an assembling method for automaticallyassembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette areprovided according to the present application.

An assembling apparatus for assembling an electrode connector of anelectronic cigarette includes a rotatable rotating disk, a rotating diskdriving device, material fixing seats, a first material sensing area, asensor, a material picking arm and a controller. The material fixingseats are arranged on the rotating disk and surrounding the rotatingdisk. The rotating disk is drivably connected to the rotating diskdriving device, to allow the rotating disk driving device to drive therotating disk to rotate. The sensor is provided in the first materialsensing area, to allow the sensor to generate a triggering signal in thecase that the sensor senses that a material is located in the firstmaterial sensing area. The controller is electrically connected to eachof the sensor, the material picking arm, and the rotating disk drivingdevice, to allow the controller to control the material picking armaccording to the triggering signal to pick up the material and place thematerial on the material fixing seat.

The assembling apparatus further includes a material vibrating disk, onwhich the material is to be placed, and a material guide rail. Thematerial vibrating disk is configured to vibrate and deliver thematerial, to allow the material to move to the material guide rail in apreset state, and the preset state of the material is a state that anaxis of a hollow portion of each material is perpendicular to a plane onwhich the material vibrating disk is located. The material guide rail isarranged between the material vibrating disk and the rotating disk, andis configured to continue to deliver the material delivered by thematerial vibrating disk in a direction towards the rotating disk. Thefirst material sensing area is located at an end, close to the rotatingdisk, of the material guide rail. The material guide rail is providedwith a material blocking valve configured to fix the material in thefirst material sensing area.

In the assembling apparatus, the material includes an outer electrode,an inner electrode configured to be inserted into the outer electrode,and an insulating ring configured to be inserted between the outerelectrode and the inner electrode. The material vibrating disk includesan outer electrode material vibrating disk on which the outer electrodeis to be placed, an insulating ring material vibrating disk on which theinsulating ring is to be placed, and an inner electrode materialvibrating disk on which the inner electrode is to be placed. Thematerial guide rail includes an outer electrode material guide railconfigured to cooperate with the outer electrode material vibratingdisk, an insulating ring material guide rail configured to cooperatewith the insulating ring material vibrating disk, and an inner electrodematerial guide rail configured to cooperate with the inner electrodematerial vibrating disk. The material picking arm includes an insulatingring picking arm, a first grasping arm configured to grasp the outerelectrode, and a second grasping arm configured to grasp the innerelectrode.

In the assembling apparatus, a top end of the insulating ring pickingarm is provided with an abutting sleeve, and a needle made of an elasticmaterial, the needle is insertedly connected to the abutting sleeve andis movable with respect to the abutting sleeve, the diameter of theneedle is larger than the diameter of a hollow portion of the insulatingring, to allow the needle to be in interference fit with the hollowportion of the insulating ring in the case that the needle is pressedinto the hollow portion of the insulating ring when the insulating ringpicking arm picks up the insulating ring. An elastic mechanism isarranged inside the abutting sleeve, and is connected to each of theabutting sleeve and the needle, to allow the needle to move towards theelastic mechanism in the case that the needle abuts against the materialfixing seat, till the needle is disengaged from the insulating ring.

In the assembling apparatus, at least two clamping sub-arms incooperation with each other are extending from a top end of each of thefirst grasping arm and the second grasping arm. A clamping drivingmechanism is arranged at an end of each of the first grasping arm andthe second grasping arm and is connected to the plurality of respectiveclamping sub-arms, and the clamping driving mechanism is connected tothe controller, to allow the clamping driving mechanism, under thecontrol of the controller, to control the plurality of respectiveclamping sub-arms to move towards each other or away from each other, toallow the clamping sub-arms moving away from each other to clamp thematerial.

In any one of the above-described assembling apparatus, the insulatingring material vibrating disk, the outer electrode material vibratingdisk and the inner electrode material vibrating disk are sequentiallyarranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and theinsulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm and the secondgrasping arm are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of therotating disk.

In the assembling apparatus, a first sub-seat, a second sub-seat and athird sub-seat are coaxially and fixedly provided on the material fixingseat, and are arranged sequentially in a direction away from therotating disk. Each of the first sub-seat, the second sub-seat and thethird sub-seat has a cylindrical shape, and the diameters of the firstsub-seat, the second sub-seat and the third sub-seat are reduced inorder. The second sub-seat is configured to match with a hollow portionof the insulating ring, to allow the insulating ring picking arm tosleeve the insulating ring on the second sub-seat. The first sub-seat isconfigured to match with a hollow portion of the outer electrode, toallow the first grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode on the firstsub-seat. The third sub-seat is configured to match with a hollowportion of the inner electrode, to allow the second grasping arm tosleeve the inner electrode on the third sub-seat.

The assembling apparatus further includes a first pressing arm, a thirdgrasping arm, and a second pressing arm. The first pressing arm isconfigured to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring locatedon the material fixing seat, to allow the outer electrode and theinsulating ring to be fixed with respect to each other. The thirdgrasping arm is configured to lift up the outer electrode and theinsulating ring located on the material fixing seat and fixed withrespect to each other, to allow the outer electrode and the insulatingring to move to a preset position, and the third grasping arm is furtherconfigured to sleeve the outer electrode and the insulating ring, bothof which has moved to the preset position, on the material fixing seaton which the inner electrode is sleeved, to form the electrode connectorof the electronic cigarette. The second pressing arm configured to pressthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette. Wherein theinsulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm, the first pressingarm, the third grasping arm, the second grasping arm, and the secondpressing arm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation ofthe rotating disk; and the preset position is between the secondgrasping arm and the second pressing arm in the direction of rotation ofthe rotating disk.

The assembling apparatus further includes a first support column and asecond support column. Each of the first support column and the secondsupport column is arranged under the rotating disk, and the firstsupport column is located at a position corresponding to the firstpressing arm, and the second support column is located a positioncorresponding to the second pressing arm; and the first support columnis configured to push the rotating disk upwards to balance the rotatingdisk in the case that the material fixing seat rotates to a positionbelow the first pressing arm, and the second support column isconfigured to push the rotating disk upwards to balance the rotatingdisk in the case that the material fixing seat rotates to a positionbelow the second pressing arm.

In any one of the above-described assembling apparatus, the innerelectrode material vibrating disk, the insulating ring materialvibrating disk, and the outer electrode material vibrating disk aresequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;and the second grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm and thefirst grasping arm are sequentially arranged in the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk.

In the assembling apparatus, a cylindrical magnetic column made ofmagnetic material is provided inside the material fixing seat, and thediameter of the magnetic column is equal to the diameter of the innerelectrode; and a subsidiary magnetic column is arranged at a top end ofthe magnetic column and is configured to match with a hollow portion ofthe inner electrode, to allow the second grasping arm to sleeve theinner electrode on the subsidiary magnetic column, to further allow theinsulating ring picking arm to sleeve the insulating ring on the innerelectrode, and to further allow the first grasping arm to sleeve theouter electrode on the insulating ring, to form the electrode connectorof the electronic cigarette.

The assembling apparatus further includes a fourth pressing armconfigured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette;wherein, the second grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, thefirst grasping arm and the fourth pressing arm are sequentially arrangedin a direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

In the assembling apparatus, a jacking driving mechanism is providedinside the material fixing seat and is connected to the magnetic column,and the jacking driving mechanism is further connected to thecontroller, to allow the controller to control the magnetic column bythe jacking driving mechanism to rise up, to further allow the fourthpressing arm and the magnetic column moving towards each other tojointly press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

The assembling apparatus further includes a fourth grasping armconfigured to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettelocated on the material fixing seat, and place the electrode connectorof the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail. Wherein asecond material sensing area is provided on the first discharge guiderail, and located below a soldering arm configured to solder theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette; a sensor is provided inthe second material sensing area, and is configured to generate atriggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is located in the second materialsensing area; and the controller is further electrically connected toeach of the soldering arm and the sensor, to allow the controller tocontrol the soldering arm according to the triggering signal to solderthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

The assembling apparatus further includes a vibrating feeder, whereinthe material guide rail is arranged on the vibrating feeder, and thehorizontal plane on which an end, away from the rotating disk, of thematerial guide rail is higher than the horizontal plane on which an end,close to the rotating disk, of the material guide rail.

In any one of the above-described assembling apparatus, the outerelectrode material vibrating disk, the insulating ring materialvibrating disk, and the inner electrode material vibrating disk aresequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;and the first grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm and thesecond grasping arm are sequentially arranged in the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk.

In the assembling apparatus, the material fixing seat is provided withan accommodating circular ring, to allow the first grasping arm toinsertedly fix the grasped outer electrode into the accommodatingcircular ring, to further allow the outer electrode to be fixedlyarranged on the material fixing seat, to further allow the insulatingring picking arm to insert the insulating ring into a hollow portion ofthe outer electrode located on the material fixing seat, and to furtherallow the second grasping arm to insert the inner electrode into ahollow portion of the insulating ring located on the material fixingseat.

The assembling apparatus further includes a third pressing armconfigured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettelocated on the material fixing seat; and a fifth grasping arm configuredto grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotatethe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to besoldered, and further rotate the soldered electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette by 180 degrees to place the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette on a second discharge guide rail; wherein thefirst grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the second graspingarm, the third pressing arm, and the fifth grasping arm are sequentiallyarranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

An assembling method for assembling an electrode connector of anelectronic cigarette includes:

sensing, by a sensor, whether each of an insulating ring, an outerelectrode, and an inner electrode is in a first material sensing area;

generating, by the sensor, a first triggering signal in the case thatthe sensor senses that the insulating ring is located in the firstmaterial sensing area;

controlling, by a controller, an insulating ring picking arm accordingto the first triggering signal to pick up the insulating ring and placethe insulating ring on a material fixing seat, wherein multiple materialfixing seats are arranged on a rotating disk and surrounding therotating disk;

generating, by the sensor, a second triggering signal in the case thatthe sensor senses the outer electrode is located in the first materialsensing area;

controlling, by the controller, a first grasping arm according to thesecond triggering signal to pick up the outer electrode and place theouter electrode on the material fixing seat;

generating, by the sensor, a third triggering signal in the case thatthe sensor senses that the inner electrode is located in the firstmaterial sensing area; and controlling, by the controller, a secondgrasping arm according to the third triggering signal to pick up theinner electrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixingseat.

In the assembling method, controlling, by a controller, an insulatingring picking arm according to the first triggering signal to pick up theinsulating ring and place the insulating ring on a material fixing seatincludes:

controlling, by the controller, a top end of the insulating ring pickingarm according to the first triggering signal to move to a position abovethe insulating ring located in the first material sensing area;

controlling, by the controller, the insulating ring picking arm to movedownwards in a direction towards the insulating ring, to press a needleinto a hollow portion of the insulating ring;

controlling, by the controller, an abutting sleeve to move downwards ina direction towards the insulating ring in the case that the controllerdetermines that the insulating ring is sleeved on the material fixingseat by the insulating ring picking arm, till the needle abuts againstthe material fixing seat, to disengage the needle from the insulatingring; and

controlling, by the controller, the insulating ring picking arm toreturn to its original position.

In the assembling method, controlling, by the controller, a firstgrasping arm according to the second triggering signal to pick up theouter electrode and place the outer electrode on the material fixingseat includes:

controlling, by the controller, the first grasping arm according to thesecond triggering signal to move to a position above the outer electrodelocated in the first material sensing area;

controlling, by the controller, the first grasping arm to move downwardsin a direction towards the outer electrode, to move a plurality of firstclamping sub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollow portion of theouter electrode;

controlling, by the controller, the plurality of first clamping sub-armsby a clamping driving mechanism to move away from each other, to clampthe outer electrode;

controlling, by the controller, the plurality of first clamping sub-armsto move towards each other in the case that the controller determinesthat the outer electrode is placed on the material fixing seat by thefirst grasping arm, to disengage the outer electrode from the firstgrasping arm; and controlling, by the controller, the first grasping armto return to its original position.

In the assembling method, controlling, by the controller, a secondgrasping arm according to the third triggering signal to pick up theinner electrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixingseat includes:

controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm according to thethird triggering signal to move to a position above the inner electrodelocated in the first material sensing area;

controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm to movedownwards in a direction towards the inner electrode, to move aplurality of second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping arm into ahollow portion of the inner electrode;

controlling, by the controller, the plurality of second clampingsub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from each other,to clamp the inner electrode;

controlling, by the controller, the plurality of second clampingsub-arms to move towards each other in the case that the controllerdetermines that the inner electrode is placed on the material fixingseat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrode fromthe second grasping arm; and

controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm to return to itsoriginal position.

In any one of the above-described assembling methods, the insulatingring picking arm, the first grasping arm, a first pressing arm, a thirdgrasping arm, the second grasping arm and a second pressing arm aresequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;and

the method further includes:

-   -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating        disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller        determines that the insulating ring is placed on a target        material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat        to a position below the first grasping arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to a position below the first pressing arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to press        the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the        target material fixing seat;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the outer electrode and the        insulating ring is pressed together, to rotate the target        material fixing seat to a position below the third grasping arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the third grasping arm to lift        up the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the        target material fixing seat and fixed with respect to each        other;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the outer electrode and the        insulating ring are lifted;    -   controlling, by the controller, the grasped outer electrode and        insulating ring by the third grasping arm to move linearly to a        preset position;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to the preset position;    -   controlling, by the controller, the third grasping arm to sleeve        the outer electrode and the insulating ring on the target        material fixing seat on which the inner electrode is sleeved, to        form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the electrode connector of the        electronic cigarette located on the target material fixing seat        is pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seat        to a position below the second pressing arm; and    -   controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to press        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on        the target material fixing seat.

In the assembling method,

controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to press theouter electrode and the insulating ring located on the target materialfixing seat includes:

-   -   while controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to        press the outer electrode and the insulating ring, further        controlling, by the controller, a first support column to rise        up, to allow the first pressing arm and the first support column        moving towards each other to press and fix the outer electrode        and the insulating ring, wherein the first support column is        located under the rotating disk at a position corresponding to        the first pressing arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to press        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on        the target material fixing seat includes:    -   while controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to        press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette,        further controlling, by the controller, a second support column        to rise up, to allow the second pressing arm and the second        support column moving towards each other to press and fix the        electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, wherein the        second support column is located under the rotating disk at a        position corresponding to the second pressing arm.

In any one of the above-described assembling methods, the secondgrasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping armand a fourth pressing arm are sequentially arranged in a direction ofrotation of the rotating disk;

the assembling method further includes:

-   -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating        disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller        determines that the inner electrode is placed on a target        material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat        to a position below the insulating ring picking arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to a position below the first grasping arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to a position below the fourth pressing arm; and    -   controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressing arm to press        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

In the assembling method, controlling, by the controller, the fourthpressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette includes:

while controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressing arm to pressthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, furthercontrolling, by the controller, a magnetic column of the target materialfixing seat to rise up, to allow the fourth pressing arm and themagnetic column moving towards each other to press the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette together, wherein the magneticcolumn is located inside the material fixing seat, and the diameter ofthe magnetic column is equal to the diameter of the inner electrode.

The assembling method further includes:

controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating diskdriving device to rotate, to rotate the target material fixing seat, onwhich the pressed electrode connector of the electronic cigarette isplaced, to a position below the fourth grasping arm;

controlling, by the controller, the fourth grasping arm to grasp theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette, and place the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail;

generating, by a sensor located on the first discharge guide rail, afourth triggering signal in the case that the sensor determines that theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in a secondmaterial sensing area, wherein the second material sensing area islocated below a soldering arm; and

controlling, by the controller, the soldering arm according to thefourth triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette.

In any one of the above-described assembling methods, the first graspingarm, the insulating ring picking arm, the second grasping arm, a thirdpressing arm, and a fifth grasping arm are sequentially arranged along adirection of rotation of the rotating disk;

the assembling method further includes:

-   -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating        disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller        determines that the outer electrode is placed on a target        material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat        to a position below the insulating ring picking arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to a position below the second grasping arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the        target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material        fixing seat to a position below the third pressing arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the third pressing arm to press        the inner electrode, the insulating ring and the outer        electrode, to form the electrode connector of the electronic        cigarette;    -   controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the        rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the        controller determines that the electrode connector of the        electronic cigarette is pressed together, to rotate the target        material fixing seat to a position below the fifth grasping arm;    -   controlling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to grasp        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotate        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180        degrees to be soldered; and    -   controlling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to rotate        the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180        degrees in the case that the controller determines that the        soldering of the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette        is finished, and place the electrode connector of the electronic        cigarette on a second discharge guide rail.

An assembling apparatus and an assembling method for automaticallyassembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette areprovided according to the present application. The assembling apparatusincludes a rotatable rotating disk, a rotating disk driving device,material fixing seats, a first material sensing area, a sensor, amaterial picking arm and a controller. The controller is configured tocontrol the material picking arm according to a triggering signalgenerated by the sensor to pick up the material and place the materialon the material fixing seat. That is, the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette may be assembled automatically by the materialpicking arm without the manual assembling line in the conventionaltechnology, which reduces the labor efforts and improves the efficiencyand also saves the cost. Further, during the assembling operation, thematerial picking arms picks up the material and places the material onthe material fixing seat to achieve the assembling operation, therebyimproving the precision during the assembling operation, and avoidingmaterial wastage caused by inaccurate operation or excessive force beingapplied, and further avoiding unnecessary waste. After the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is assembled, the materials of theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette are fixed with respectto each other, thereby improving the performance of the electroniccigarette. In addition, contamination to the materials during theassembling operation may be significantly reduced by using theassembling apparatus according to the present application, therebyavoiding the situation that the battery rod assembly cannot normallysupply power to the atomizer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall structure of anelectronic cigarette in the conventional technology;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of an assemblingapparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the assemblingapparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of an insulating ringassembling unit according to the present application;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the insulating ringassembling unit according to the present application;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of an outer electrodeassembling unit according to the present application;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the outer electrodeassembling unit according to the present application;

FIG. 8 is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the assemblingapparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall structure of amaterial fixing seat according to the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall structure ofthe material fixing seat according to the present application, whereinan atomizer electrode connector or a battery rod electrode connector issleeved on the material fixing seat;

FIG. 11 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the assemblingapparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the another preferred embodiment of theassembling apparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall structure ofanother material fixing seat according to an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 14 is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the assemblingapparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 15 is a schematic partially perspective view showing the structureof a material fixing seat according to an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the partial structure of aninsulating ring picking arm for the insulating ring according to anembodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the partial structure of a firstgrasping arm according to an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of an assembling apparatus for automaticallyassembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette isdescribed in detail hereinafter.

The assembling apparatus according to this embodiment is described indetail hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the assembling apparatus according to thisembodiment; and FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembling apparatusaccording to this embodiment.

The assembling apparatus according to this embodiment may include aframe 200, a rotating disc 201, a rotating disk driving device, and amaterial fixing seat 202.

The frame 200 according to this embodiment may be closed, which mayavoid contamination during assembling the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette. The frame 200 may be not closed, to allow the userto observe at any time, and ensure the assembling operation to beperformed smoothly.

The rotating disk 201 is located inside the frame 200 and is rotatable.

In this embodiment, the specific position of the rotating disk 201 isnot limited. In this embodiment, the rotating disk 201 may be preferablyarranged at the center of the frame 200.

The rotating disk driving device is drivably connected to the rotatingdisk 201, to allow the rotating disk 201 to be driven by the rotatingdisk driving device to rotate. The specific location of the rotatingdisk driving device is not limited in this embodiment, as long as it candrive the rotating disk 201 to rotate.

The material fixing seat 202 is fixedly arranged on the rotating disk201.

In this embodiment, the specific arrangement the material fixing seat202 is not limited, as long as the material fixing seat 202 can rotatealong with the rotating disk 201. It is preferable that material fixingseats 202 are arranged on the rotating disk 201 and surrounding therotating disk 201, and the spaces between adjacent material fixing seats202 are equal.

The assembling apparatus further includes a first material sensing areaarranged at a side of the rotating disk 201, and the first materialsensing area is provided with a sensor. The sensor may generate atriggering signal correspondingly in the case that it is sensed by thesensor that a material for assembling the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is located in the first material sensing area.

The specific position for arranging the first material sensing area isnot limited in this embodiment.

The assembling apparatus further includes a material picking arm 21. Thematerial picking arm 21 is configured to pick the material located inthe first material sensing area and place the material on the materialfixing seat 202 to accomplish the assembling operation.

The specific position for arranging the material picking arm 21 is notlimited in this embodiment, as long as it can pick up the materiallocated in the first material sensing area.

That is, in this embodiment, the first material sensing area and thematerial picking arm 21 may be respectively arranged at appropriatepositions at the periphery of the rotating disk 201.

In this embodiment, the number of the material picking arms 21 is equalto the number of the first material sensing areas.

For achieving automatic assembling operation, a controller is provided,which is electrically connected to the sensor, the material picking arm21 and the rotating disk driving device, and the controller isconfigured to control the material picking arm 21 according to thetriggering signal to pick up the material and place the material on thematerial fixing seat 202.

In this embodiment, the controller may control the rotating disk 201 torotate by the rotating disk driving device, to allow the material fixingseat 202 on the rotating disk 201 to rotate to a preset mountinglocation, and the preset mounting location is a location close to thematerial picking arm 21. The sensor may generate a triggering signalcorrespondingly in the case that it is sensed by the sensor that amaterial is located in the first material sensing area, and thecontroller acquires the triggering signal, and generates, according tothe triggering signal, a control signal for controlling the materialpicking arm 21 to pick up the material, to enable the material pickingarm 21 to pick up the material and place the material on the materialfixing seat 202 at the preset mounting location according to the controlsignal, thereby accomplishing the automatic assembly of the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette. During the assembling operation,no labor is required, therefore saving labor resources, and furthersaving costs and improving efficiency. In addition, the assemblingoperation is accomplished by controlling the material picking arm 21 viathe controller, thereby improving the precision during the assemblingoperation, and further avoiding wastage of the materials and unnecessarywaste.

In the first embodiment, the specific position of the first materialsensing area is not limited, as long as the material picking arm 21 maypick up the material in the first material sensing area, and the mannerfor conveying the material to the first material sensing area is notlimited.

For example, the material may be placed in the first material sensingarea manually. Or, the first material sensing area may be connected to aplatform for storing the material via a sliding rail with a smallfriction coefficient, and the horizontal plane of the platform is higherthan the horizontal plane of the first material sensing area, to allowthe material on the platform to automatically slide to the firstmaterial sensing area via the sliding rail. The structure of anassembling apparatus, which allows the material to move to the firstmaterial sensing area automatically, is illustrated hereinafter inconjunction with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With theassembling apparatus in a second embodiment, the material can move tothe first material sensing area automatically and smoothly, to avoidcollision between materials and avoid wastage, and no labor is requiredin this process, which improves the efficiency.

The assembling apparatus according to the second embodiment is furtherdescribed.

On the basis of the first embodiment, the assembling apparatus in thesecond embodiment further includes a material vibrating disk 22 on whichthe material can be placed, and a material guide rail 23.

A vibration driving device is connected to the material vibrating disk22, and is configured to enable the material on the material vibratingdisk 22 to vibrate, to facilitate delivering the material. Further, forfacilitating the material picking arm 21 picking up the material, thematerial is configured to move to the material guide rail 23 in a presetstate during the process of delivering the material.

The material guide rail 23 is arranged between the material vibratingdisk 22 and the rotating disk 201, and is configured to continue toconvey the material delivered by the material vibrating disk 22 in thedirection towards the rotating disk 201.

The material guide rail 23 may be arranged on a vibrating feeder, andthe material guide rail is controlled by the vibrating feeder tovibrate, to convey the material on the material guide rail 23 smoothlyand avoid collision between the materials and reduce unnecessary loss.

In this embodiment, the preset state of the material refers to a statethat the axis of a hollow portion of each of the materials isperpendicular to the plane on which the material vibrating disk 22 islocated.

Apparently, as the assembling method varies, the preset state may alsovary, as long as the automatic assembling operation can be achieved, andthe specific configuring manner is not limited.

For allowing the material picking arm 21 to pick up the materialaccurately, the first material sensing area is provided at an end of thematerial guide rail 23 close to the rotating disk 201. Due to thevibration of the material vibrating disk 22, the material on thematerial vibrating disk 22 is delivered to the material guide rail 23,and moves along the material guide rail 23, which allows the material tobe delivered to the first material sensing area in the preset state, toallow the sensor located in the first material sensing area to sense thematerial.

Preferably, for making the material delivered onto the first materialsensing area to be more stable, a tail end of the material guide rail 23may be provided with a material blocking valve. The material blockingvalve is configured to block the material, to enable material to stopmoving and remain stationary in the first material sensing area to besensed by the sensor.

More preferably, for more smoothly conveying the material onto the firstmaterial sensing area, the horizontal plane, on which an end of thematerial guide rail 23 away from the rotating disk 201 is located, ishigher than the horizontal plane on which an end of the material guiderail 23 close to the rotating disk 201 is located. Thus the time forconveying the material is reduced effectively, and the efficiency ofautomatic assembly is further improved.

According to a third embodiment, the assembling apparatus is separatedinto parts to be described.

The electrode connector of the electronic cigarette includes an atomizerelectrode connector and a battery rod electrode connector, that is, thematerials required to assemble each of the battery rod electrodeconnector and the atomizer electrode connector include an outerelectrode, an inner electrode configured to be inserted into the outerelectrode, and an insulating ring configured to be inserted between theouter electrode and the inner electrode.

The assembling apparatus according to this embodiment includes threeunits, i.e., an insulating ring assembling unit, an outer electrodeassembling unit and an inner electrode assembling unit.

The insulating ring assembling unit is configured to automaticallyassemble the insulating ring onto the material fixing seat 202, theouter electrode assembling unit is configured to automatically assemblethe outer electrode onto the material fixing seat 202, and the innerelectrode assembling unit is configured to automatically assemble theinner electrode onto the material fixing seat 202.

Firstly, the insulating ring assembling unit is described in detail inconjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferredembodiment of the insulating ring assembling unit according to thepresent application; and FIG. 5 is a top view of the preferredembodiment of the insulating ring assembling unit according to thepresent application.

The insulating ring assembling unit includes an insulating ring materialvibrating disk 221 on which the insulating ring is to be placed, avibration driving device 401, an insulating ring material guide rail 231configured to cooperate with the insulating ring material vibrating disk221, and an insulating ring picking arm 211 for picking up theinsulating ring. The vibration driving device 401 is connected to theinsulating ring material vibrating disk 221 and is configured to drivethe insulating ring material vibrating disk 221 to vibrate to deliverthe insulating ring. The insulating ring material guide rail 231 isarranged on a vibrating feeder 402, to allow the insulating ringmaterial guide rail 231 to deliver the insulating ring.

In this embodiment, the insulating ring picking arm 211 may pick up theinsulating ring located in the first material sensing area on theinsulating ring material guide rail 231, and place this insulating ringonto the material fixing seat 202 located on the rotating disk 201 andclose to the first material sensing area.

The specific structure of the insulating ring picking arm 211 capable ofpicking up the insulating ring is further described in detailhereinafter. The insulating ring picking arm 211 is provided with afirst driving device 2111. In this embodiment, the first driving device2111 is embodied as a slide-rod cylinder.

A first push rod 2114 is connected to the first driving device 2111. Afirst push plate 2112 is connected to the first push rod 2114. Thespecific structure of the first push plate 2112 may be referred to FIG.16.

A first guide rail 2113 is provided at an end of the first push plate2112 and matches with the end of the first push plate 2112, to allow theend of the first push plate 2112 to be slidable in the first guide rail2113. The first driving device 2111 is configured to drive the firstpush rod 2114, to allow the first push rod 2114 to push the end of thefirst push plate 2112 to slide along the first guide rail 2113. Thefirst driving device 2111 is electrically connected to the controller,thus the first driving device 2111 can control the first push plate 2112to slide reciprocately and freely along the first guide rail 2113according to the control signal generated by the controller.

When the controller is required to control the insulating ring pickingarm 211 to pick up the insulating ring, the controller controls, by thefirst driving device 2111, the first push plate 2112 to slide to aposition right above the insulating ring in the first material sensingarea.

When the controller is required to control the insulating ring pickingarm 211 to place the insulating ring onto the material fixing seat 202,the controller controls, by the first driving device 2111, the firstpush plate 2112 to slide to a position right above the material fixingseat 202 close to the first material sensing area.

An abutting sleeve 2115 is connected to the first push plate 2112. Thespecific structure of the abutting sleeve 2115 may be referred to FIG.16.

A second driving device 1601 (see FIG. 16) is connected to the abuttingsleeve 2115 and the first push plate 2112. In this embodiment, thesecond driving device 1601 is embodied as a slide-rod cylinder.

A second push rod 1602 (see FIG. 16) is connected to the second drivingdevice 1601. Under the control of the controller, the second drivingdevice 1601 pushes, by the second push rod 1602, the abutting sleeve2115 to move in a direction towards the insulating ring or the materialfixing seat.

A needle 2116 made of an elastic material is insertedly connected to theabutting sleeve 2115 and is movable with respect to the abutting sleeve2115. An elastic mechanism is provided in the abutting sleeve 2115 andis connected to the abutting sleeve 2115 and the needle 2116respectively. The specific structure of the elastic mechanism is notlimited in this embodiment, as long as the needle 2116, when beingsubjected to a force, can move towards the elastic mechanism. In thisembodiment, the elastic mechanism is embodied as a spring.

During the process of the insulating ring picking arm 211 picking up theinsulating ring, the controller controls, by the first driving device2111, the first push plate 2112 to slide, to locate the needle 2116right above the insulating ring in the first material sensing area.

The controller controls, by the second driving device, the abuttingsleeve 2115 to move in a direction towards the insulating ring locatedin the first material sensing area, to press the needle 2116 into ahollow portion of the insulating ring.

In this embodiment, the diameter of the needle 2116 is larger than thediameter of the hollow portion of the insulating ring, thus the end ofthe needle 2116 that is pressed into the hollow portion of theinsulating ring is in interference fit with the insulating ring, thusthe needle 2116 may generate a certain outward pressure due toexpansion, thereby fixing the insulating ring and the needle 2116 withrespect to each other.

The controller controls, by the second driving device, the abuttingsleeve 2115 to move in a direction away from the first material sensingarea, to allow the insulating ring picking arm 211 to pick up theinsulating ring.

During the process of the insulating ring picking arm 211 placing theinsulating ring onto the material fixing seat 202, the controllercontrols, by the first driving device 2111, the first push plate 2112 toslide, to allow the needle 2116 to be located right above the materialfixing seat 202 close to the first material sensing area.

The controller controls, by the second driving device, the abuttingsleeve 2115 to move in a direction towards the material fixing seat 202till the needle 2116 abuts against the material fixing seat 202.

Since the needle 2116 abuts against the material fixing seat 202, theneedle 2116 is subjected to an upward force. The elastic mechanism isconnected to the needle 2116, and the elastic mechanism is deformableelastically, thus the needle 2116 is enabled to move towards the elasticmechanism till the needle 2116 is disengaged from the insulating ring.

That is, the needle 2116 disengaged from the insulating ring retractsinto the insulating ring picking arm 211, to make the insulating ringfall off onto the material fixing seat 202, thereby achieving the objectof placing the insulating ring onto the material fixing seat 202.

Preferably, a telescopic driving mechanism may be further providedinside the insulating ring picking arm 211, and is connected to theneedle 2116 and the controller. Thus, under the control of thecontroller, the telescopic driving mechanism can control the needle 2116to extend in a direction towards the insulating ring during the processof the insulating ring picking arm 211 picking up the insulating ring.And, under the control of the controller, the telescopic drivingmechanism can control the needle 2116 to retract in a direction towardsthe abutting sleeve 2115 during the process of the insulating ringpicking arm 211 placing the insulating ring onto the material fixingseat 202. In this case, the efficiency of the process of picking up theinsulating ring is improved.

With the insulating ring assembling unit in this embodiment, theinsulating ring can be automatically picked up and can be automaticallyplaced onto the material fixing seat 202, which achieves the object ofautomatic assembly. Further, the insulating ring is picked up by usingthe interference fit between the needle 2116 and the hollow portion ofthe insulating ring, which addresses the issue that the soft insulatingring is apt to be deformed when being picked up, and achieves theautomatic picking up of the insulating ring. Thus a case that theinsulating ring will be damaged when subjected to an overly large forceis effectively avoided.

In this embodiment, the structures of the outer electrode assemblingunit and the inner electrode assembling unit are identical, and thestructure of the outer electrode assembling unit is described in detailin this embodiment. The structure of the inner electrode assembling unitmay be referred to the structure of the outer electrode assembling unit,and will not be described herein.

The structure of the outer electrode assembling unit is described indetail hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a sideview of a preferred embodiment of an outer electrode assembling unitaccording to the present application; and FIG. 7 is a top view of thepreferred embodiment of the outer electrode assembling unit according tothe present application.

The outer electrode assembling unit includes an outer electrode materialvibrating disk 222 on which the outer electrode is placed, a vibrationdriving device 601, an outer electrode material guide rail 232configured to cooperate with the outer electrode material vibrating disk222, and a first grasping arm 212 configured to grasp the outerelectrode. The vibration driving device 601 is connected to the outerelectrode material vibrating disc 222, and configured to drive the outerelectrode material vibrating disk 222 to vibrate to deliver the outerelectrode. The outer electrode material guide rail 232 is arranged on avibrating feeder 602, to allow the outer electrode material guide rail232 to deliver the outer electrode.

In this embodiment, the first grasping arm 212 may grasp an outerelectrode located in a first material sensing area on the outerelectrode material guide rail 232, and place the outer electrode onto amaterial fixing seat 202 located on the rotating disk 201 and close tothe first material sensing area.

The specific structure of the first grasping arm 212 capable of graspingthe outer electrode is further described in detail hereinafter. At leasttwo clamping sub-arms 2121 are extending from a top end of the firstgrasping arm 212 and are in cooperation with each other. The specificstructure of the clamping sub-arms 2121 may be referred to FIG. 17.

A clamping driving mechanism 2122 is arranged at an end of the firstgrasping arm 212 and is connected to the multiple clamping sub-arms2121. The clamping driving mechanism 2122 is connected to thecontroller, thus under the control of the controller, the clampingdriving mechanism 2122 can control the multiple clamping sub-arms 2121to move towards each other or move away from each other.

The first grasping arm 212 is further provided with a third drivingdevice 2123. In this embodiment, the third driving device 2123 isembodied as a slide-rod cylinder.

A third push rod 2124 is connected to the third driving device 2123. Asecond push plate 2125 is connected to the third push rod 2124. A secondguide rail 2126 is provided at an end of the second push plate 2125 andmatches with the end of the second push plate 2125, to allow the end ofthe second push plate 2125 to be slidable in the second guide rail 2126.The third driving device 2123 is configured to drive the third push rod2124, to allow the third push rod 2124 to push the end of the secondpush plate 2125 to slide along the second guide rail 2126. The thirddriving device 2123 is electrically connected to the controller, toallow the third driving device 2123 to control, according to a controlsignal generated by the controller, the second push plate 2125 to slidereciprocately and freely along the second guide rail 2126.

When the controller is required to control the first grasping arm 211 tograsp the outer electrode, the controller controls, by the third drivingdevice 2123, the second push plate 2125 to slide to a position rightabove the outer electrode located in the first material sensing area.

The first grasping arm 212 is further provided with a fourth drivingdevice 2127 (see FIG. 17).

The fourth driving device 2127 is electrically connected to thecontroller, to allow the fourth driving device 2127 to control,according to the control signal generated by the controller, the secondpush plate 2125 to move downwards in a direction towards the firstmaterial sensing zone, which is the direction indicated by a downwardarrow shown in FIG. 6.

The second push plate 2125 is driven by the fourth driving device 2127to move downwards, till the clamping sub-arms 2121 move into a hollowportion of the outer electrode.

Under the control of the controller, the clamping driving mechanism 2122controls the multiple clamping sub-arms 2121 to move away from eachother, to allow the clamping sub-arms 2121 to abut against the innerperipheral surface of the hollow portion of the outer electrode, toallow the clamping sub-arms 2121 to grasp the outer electrode.

During the process of the controller controlling the first grasping arm212 to place the outer electrode onto the material fixing seat 202, thecontroller lifts up the second push plate 2125 by the fourth drivingdevice 2127.

The controller controls, by the third driving device 2123, the firstgrasping arm 212 to move the outer electrode to a position right abovethe fixing seat 202.

The controller controls, by the fourth driving device 2127, the firstgrasping arm 212 to move downwards to place the outer electrode onto thefixing seat 202.

Under the control of the controller, the clamping driving mechanism 2122controls the multiple clamping sub-arms 2121 to move towards each otherin the direction indicated by the opposing arrows shown in FIG. 6, toallow the clamping sub-arms to be in a clearance fit with the hollowportion of the outer electrode.

The controller lifts up the second push plate 2125 by the fourth drivingdevice 2127, to disengage the first grasping arm 212 from the outerelectrode.

In this embodiment, the inner electrode assembling unit includes aninner electrode material vibrating disk on which the inner electrode isplaced, an inner electrode material guide rail configured to cooperatewith the inner electrode material vibrating disk, and a second graspingarm configured to grasp the inner electrode.

The specific structure of the inner electrode material vibrating diskmay refer to the outer electrode material vibrating disk 222 as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, and will not be described herein.

The specific structure of the inner electrode material guide rail mayrefer to the outer electrode material guide rail 232 as shown in FIGS. 6and 7, and will not be described in this embodiment.

The specific structure of the second grasping arm is the same as thatthe structure of the first grasping arm as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 17,and will not be described in this embodiment.

The automatic grasping and assembling of the outer electrode and theinner electrode can be achieved by the outer electrode assembling unitand the inner electrode assembling unit, which effectively improves theefficiency.

The structure of the assembling apparatus according to a fourthembodiment is described in detail, which can automatically assemble theatomizer electrode connector and the battery rod electrode connectorintegrally.

The assembling apparatus in this embodiment may have three structures.

A first structure is shown in FIG. 8, which is a top view of a preferredembodiment of the assembling apparatus.

In this structure, the insulating ring assembling unit, the outerelectrode assembling unit and the inner electrode assembling unit aresequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk201. That is, the insulating ring material vibrating disk 221, the outerelectrode material vibrating disk 222 and the inner electrode materialvibrating disk 223 are sequentially arranged in the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk 201. Further, the insulating ring materialpicking arm 211, the first grasping arm 212 and the second grasping arm213 are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of therotating disk 201.

The specific structures of the insulating ring assembling unit, theouter electrode assembling unit and the inner electrode assembling unitare described in the third embodiment, which are not described in thisembodiment.

In this arrangement of the fourth embodiment, for achieving theautomatic assembly of the atomizer electrode connector or the batteryrod electrode connector, as shown in FIG. 9, a first sub-seat 2021, asecond sub-seat 2022 and a third sub-seat 2023 are coaxially and fixedlyprovided on the material fixing seat 202 and are arranged sequentiallyin a direction away from the rotating disk 201.

Each of the first sub-seat 2021, the second sub-seat 2022 and the thirdsub-seat 2023 has a cylindrical shape, and the diameters of the firstsub-seat 2021, the second sub-seat 2022 and the third sub-seat 2023 arereduced in order.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second sub-seat 2022 is configured to matchwith the hollow portion of the insulating ring 302, to allow theinsulating ring picking arm 211 to sleeve the insulating ring 302 on thesecond sub-seat 2022. The first sub-seat 2021 is configured to matchwith the hollow portion of the outer electrode 301, to allow the firstgrasping arm 212 to sleeve the outer electrode 301 on the first sub-seat2021. The third sub-seat 2023 is configured to match with a hollowportion of the inner electrode 303, to allow the second grasping arm 213to sleeve the inner electrode 303 on the third sub-seat 2023.

In this embodiment, the method for configuring the material fixing seat202 is described as an example and is not intended to constitutelimitation, and the material fixing seat 202 may be configured in othermanners, as long as the material can be placed thereon.

For example, the material fixing seat 202 may further include a baseseat. A top end of the base seat is provided with a positioning grooveconfigured to accommodate and position the insulating ring, and theinner peripheral surface of the positioning groove is configured tomatch with the outer peripheral surface of the insulating ring.

A positioning column is fixedly provided in the base seat, and an end ofthe positioning column passes through the positioning groove to passthrough the base seat. The positioning groove and the positioning columnare arranged coaxially, and the horizontal plane, on which an endsurface of an end of the positioning column away from the base seat islocated, is higher than the horizontal plane on which the positioninggroove is located. The diameter of the positioning column is smallerthan the diameter of the hollow portion of the insulating ring, to allowthe insulating ring sleeved on the positioning column to be in clearancefit with the positioning column, and to be accommodated in thepositioning groove.

The inner peripheral surface of the positioning groove is configured tomatch with the outer peripheral surface of the insulating ring, to allowthe insulating ring to be placed into the positioning groove. Whenautomatically assembling the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette, the insulating ring located in the positioning groove cannotshift; otherwise, the automatic assembly cannot be performed accuratelyand efficiently. In this embodiment, for preventing the insulating ringfrom shifting, the positioning column is fixedly provided in the baseseat, and one end of the positioning column passes through thepositioning groove to pass through the base seat.

For allowing the insulating ring accommodated in the positioning grooveto be more stable and preventing the insulating ring from shaking, thepositioning groove and the positioning column are coaxially arranged.

For further facilitating disengaging the insulating ring from thematerial fixing seat to facilitate removing the insulating ring, thehorizontal plane, on which an end surface of an end of the positioningcolumn away from the base seat is located, is higher than the horizontalplane on which the positioning groove is located, and the diameter ofthe positioning column is smaller than the diameter of the hollowportion of the insulating ring.

Since the diameter of the positioning column is smaller than thediameter of the hollow portion of the insulating ring, that is, thepositioning column is in clearance fit with the hollow portion of theinsulating ring, thereby effectively avoiding failing to remove theinsulating ring due to too tight assembling which is caused by too tightfit between the hollow portion of the insulating ring and thepositioning column

With the material fixing seat according to this embodiment, theinsulating ring may be sleeved on the positioning column andaccommodated in the positioning groove, to avoid shifting of theinsulating ring, thereby avoiding adversely affecting the precision ofassembling the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette. Furtherthe hollow portion of the insulating ring is in clearance fit with thepositioning column, thus the insulating ring may be disengaged from thematerial fixing seat efficiently and expediently, thereby improving theassembling efficiency and avoiding damage to the insulating ring whenassembling the insulating ring.

The specific assembling process of the assembling apparatus forimplementing the first arrangement is described as follows.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the case that a sensor, which is located in afirst material sensing area on the insulating ring material guide rail231, senses the insulating ring 302, the sensor generates a triggeringsignal correspondingly.

The controller generates a control signal according to the triggeringsignal, to control the insulating ring picking arm 211 to pick up theinsulating ring 302. The specific process of picking up the insulatingring 302 is described in the third embodiment.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to move theinsulating ring 302 to a position right above a material fixing seat 202close to the first material sensing area.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to sleevethe insulating ring 302 on the second sub-seat 2022. The specificprocess of sleeving the insulating ring 302 is described in the thirdembodiment.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to return toits original position, to allow the insulating ring picking arm 211 topick up the insulating ring 302 again.

The controller presets a moving angle, and controls the rotating disk201 to rotate according to the preset moving angle, to rotate thematerial fixing seat 202, in which the insulating ring 302 is inserted,to a position below the first grasping arm 212.

Apparently, the moving angle is not limited, as long as it mayfacilitate the first grasping arm 212 grasping the outer electrode.

The controller controls the first grasping arm 212 to grasp the outerelectrode 301, and sleeve the grasped outer electrode 301 on the firstsub-seat 2021, thereby inserting the insulating ring 302 in the outerelectrode 301.

The specific grasping process of the first grasping arm 212 is describedin the third embodiment.

The controller controls the first grasping arm 212 to return to itsoriginal position, to allow the first grasping arm 212 to grasp theouter electrode 301 again.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, in whichthe outer electrode is inserted, to a position below a first pressingarm 801 (as shown in FIG. 8).

The first pressing arm 801 is configured to press the outer electrode301 and the insulating ring 302 on the material fixing seat 202, to fixthe outer electrode 301 with respect to the insulating ring 302.

The first pressing arm 801 is arranged downstream the first grasping arm212 in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to provide a first support columnunder the rotating disk 201, to avoid a situation that when the firstpressing arm 801 presses the outer electrode 301 and the insulating ring302 on the material fixing seat 202, the rotating disk 201 inclines whensubjected to a force from the first pressing arm 801, which may damagethe rotating disk 201.

More preferably, in this embodiment, the position of the first supportcolumn 802 and the position of the first pressing arm 801 arecorresponding to each other, as shown in FIG. 11.

That is, when the controller controls the first pressing arm 801 topress the material fixing seat 202, i.e., the first pressing arm 801applies a downward force to the material fixing seat 202, the controllercontrols the first support column 802 to move upwards to push therotating disk 201 upwards, to balance the rotating disc 201 and preventthe rotating disk 201 from being inclined due to being subjected to aneccentric force.

After a preset duration elapses, when the controller determines that theouter electrode 301 and the insulating ring 302 are fixed with respectto each other, the controller controls the first support column 802 andthe first pressing arm 801 to return to the original positionsrespectively.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to move the material fixing seat 202, in which theouter electrode 301 is inserted, to a position below a third graspingarm 803 (as shown in FIG. 8).

The third grasping arm 803 is located at an initial position at thistime, that is, the third grasping arm 803 is located downstream thefirst pressing arm 801 in the direction of rotation of the rotatingdisk.

The controller controls the third grasping arm 803 to lift up the outerelectrode 301 and the insulating ring 302 located on the material fixingseat and fixed with respect to each other. The specific structure of thethird grasping arm 803 is identical to the structure of the firstgrasping arm 212, thus will not be described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a slide rail 808 is connected to the thirdgrasping arm 803, that is, the third grasping arm 803 can be guided bythe slide rail 808 to move freely, and the guiding direction of theslide rail 808 is a linear direction.

After picking up the outer electrode 301 and the insulating ring 302,the third grasping arm 803 moves to a preset position along the sliderail 808.

The preset position is between the second grasping arm 213 and thesecond pressing arm 804 in the direction of rotation of the rotatingdisk 201.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202 to aposition below the second grasping arm 213.

The second grasping arm 213 grasps the inner electrode 303, and sleevesthe inner electrode 303 on the third sub-seat 2023. The specificstructure of the second grasping arm 213 is described in the thirdembodiment.

The controller controls the second grasping arm 213 to return to itsoriginal position.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, till the fixing seat 202 rotates to the presetposition and keeps still, and at this time, the fixing seat 202 and thethird grasping arm 803 are both located at the preset position, and thethird grasping arm 803 is located right above the fixing seat 202.

The controller controls the third grasping arm 803 to sleeve the outerelectrode 301 and the insulating ring 302 on the material fixing seat,on which the inner electrode 303 has been sleeved, to form an electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette.

The controller controls the third grasping arm 803 to return to itsoriginal position, to allow the third grasping arm 803 to grasp theinsulating ring 302 and the outer electrode 301 again.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, on whichthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is arranged, to aposition below the second pressing arm 804.

The second pressing arm 804 is configured to press the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette, thus the structure of a finishedatomizer electrode connector or a finished battery rod electrodeconnector is more reliable, which effectively prolongs the service lifeof the electronic cigarette.

The specific structure of the second pressing arm 804 may refer to thestructure of the first pressing arm 801.

It is preferable to provide a second support column 802 under therotating disk 201 at a position corresponding to the second pressing arm804, to avoid a situation that when the second pressing arm 804 pressesthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on thematerial fixing seat 202, the rotating disk 201 inclines, which maydamage the rotating disk 201. The second support column is located underthe rotating disk 201 at a position corresponding to the second pressingarm 804. The specific structure of the second support column isidentical to the structure of the first support column 802, and will notbe described herein, which can refer to FIG. 11.

In this arrangement, the insulating ring picking arm 211, the firstgrasping arm 212, the first pressing arm 801, the third grasping arm803, the second grasping arm 213 and the second pressing arm 804 aresequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette to a position below a fourth grasping arm 805.

The controller controls the fourth grasping arm 805 to grasp the pressedelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the materialfixing seat 202, and place the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette on a first discharge guide rail 806.

The specific structure of the first discharge guide rail 806 may referto the material guide rail 23 in the second embodiment. The firstdischarge guide rail 806 moves a finished electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette to a second material sensing area by a method ofinclining and vibrating.

The specific structure of the fourth picking arm 805 is not limited, aslong as it may grasp the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette, and the specific structure of the fourth picking arm 805 mayrefer to the structure of the first grasping arm 212.

The second material sensing area is provided at the first dischargeguide rail 806, and the second material sensing area is located below asoldering arm 807 for soldering the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette.

The second material sensing area is provided with a sensor, and thesensor is configured to generate a triggering signal correspondingly inthe case that it is sensed by the sensor that the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette is located in the second material sensing area.

The controller controls the soldering arm 807 according to thetriggering signal to solder the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette.

The controller is electrically connected to the soldering arm 807 andthe sensor.

Further, for allowing the soldering arm 807 to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette accurately, the first dischargeguide rail 806 is provided with a material blocking valve. When it issensed by the sensor that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette moves to the second material sensing area, the controllercontrols the material blocking valve to act, to fix the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette at a preset position.

The preset position is a position where the soldering arm 807 mayaccurately solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

The controller controls the soldering arm 807 to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette while controlling the materialblocking valve to act.

The specific soldering process belongs to the conventional technology,which will not be described in this embodiment.

After the soldering, i.e., after a preset duration elapses, thecontroller opens the material blocking valve, and moves the finishedelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette out of the firstdischarge guide rail 806, thereby completing the automatic assembly ofthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

In a second arrangement, as shown in FIG. 12, the outer electrodeassembling unit, the insulating ring assembling unit, and the innerelectrode assembling unit are sequentially arranged along the directionof rotation of the rotating disk 201. The specific structure of each ofthe outer electrode assembling unit, the insulating ring assembling unitand the inner electrode assembling unit may refer to the thirdembodiment. That is, the outer electrode material vibrating disk 222,the insulating ring material vibrating disk 221, and the inner electrodematerial vibrating disk 223 are sequentially arranged along thedirection of rotation of the rotating disk 201. Further, the firstgrasping arm 212, the insulating ring picking arm 211, and the secondgrasping arm 213 are sequentially arranged along the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk 201.

The specific structure of the material fixing seat 202 in thisarrangement may refer to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows a structure of a material fixing seat 202 on which anelectrode connector of an electronic cigarette is arranged. Asillustrated in FIG. 13, in this arrangement, the material fixing seat202 is provided with an accommodating circular ring, and the innerperipheral surface of the accommodating circular ring matches with theouter peripheral surface of the outer electrode 301.

For facilitating disengaging the assembled electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette from the material fixing seat 202, and avoidingdamage to the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, the outerperipheral wall of the outer electrode is in clearance fit with theinner peripheral surface of the accommodating circular ring.

The specific assembling process of the assembling apparatus implementingthe second arrangement is described as follows.

It is to be noted that, the state of the material located in the firstmaterial sensing area in this arrangement is opposite to the state ofthe material located in the first material sensing area in the firstarrangement.

That is, the state of the material in the first arrangement beingrotated by 180 degrees is just the state of the material located in thefirst material sensing area in this arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the case that the sensor, in the first materialsensing area on the outer electrode material guide rail 232, senses theouter electrode 301, the sensor generates a triggering signalcorrespondingly.

The controller generates a control signal according to the triggeringsignal, to control the first grasping arm 212 to grasp the outerelectrode 301. The specific grasping process is described in the thirdembodiment.

That is, the first grasping arm 212 is controlled to insert the graspedouter electrode 301 in the accommodating circular ring to fix the outerelectrode 301 therein, to fixedly arrange the outer electrode 301 on thematerial fixing seat 202.

The controller controls the first grasping arm 212 to move the outerelectrode 301 to a position right above the material fixing seat 202close to the first material sensing area.

The controller controls the first grasping arm 212 to return to itsoriginal position, to allow the first grasping arm 212 to pick up theouter electrode 301 again.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, in whichthe outer electrode 301 is fixedly inserted, to a position below theinsulating ring picking arm 211.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to pick upthe insulating ring 302, and the specific method for picking up theinsulating ring 302 is described in the third embodiment.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to pick upthe insulating ring 302, and controls the insulating ring picking arm211 to insert the insulating ring 302 into the hollow portion of theouter electrode 301 located on the material fixing seat 202.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to return toits original position, to allow the insulating ring picking arm 211 topick up the insulating ring 302 again.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to move the material fixing seat 202, in which theinsulating ring 302 is inserted, to a position below the second graspingarm 213.

The controller controls the second grasping arm 213 to grasp the innerelectrode 303, and controls the second grasping arm 213 to insert theinner electrode 303 in the hollow portion of the insulating ring locatedon the material fixing seat 202, as shown in FIG. 13.

The specific structure of the second grasping arm 213 is described inthe third embodiment.

The controller controls the second grasping arm 213 to return to itsoriginal position.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, in whichthe inner electrode 303 is inserted, to a position below a thirdpressing arm 901.

In this embodiment, the specific position of the third pressing arm 901is not limited, as long as the third pressing arm 901 is arrangeddownstream the second grasping arm 213 and upstream a fifth grasping arm902 in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

In this arrangement, a support column may be further arranged below therotating disc 201, and the position of the support column corresponds tothe position of the third pressing arm 901. The structure of the supportcolumn may refer to the first arrangement, and will not be described inthis arrangement.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette to a position below the fifth grasping arm 902.

The controller controls the fifth grasping arm 902 to grasp theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette, then rotate theelectrode connector by 180 degrees for soldering, and then rotate thesoldered electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees,to place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a seconddischarge guide rail 903.

The first grasping arm 212, the insulating ring picking arm 211, thesecond grasping arm 213, the third pressing arm 901, and the fifthgrasping arm 902 are sequentially arranged along the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk 201.

In this arrangement, the electrode connector of the electronic cigaretteis directly soldered on the fifth grasping arm 902, without beingpositioned and fixed.

Compared with the first arrangement, in this arrangement, the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is finished by performing pressingoperation once after the electrode connector is automatically assembled,without requiring multiple pressing operations, reduces the workingprocedures and simplifies the installation process, thus is quicker,time saving and improves the efficiency of the automatic assembly.

The third arrangement is described in conjunction with FIG. 14, which isa top view of another preferred embodiment of the assembling apparatusaccording to the present application.

In this arrangement, the inner electrode assembling unit, the insulatingring assembling unit and the outer electrode assembling unit aresequentially arranged along the direction of rotation of the rotatingdisk 201.

The specific structure of each of the inner electrode assembling unit,the insulating ring assembling unit and the outer electrode assemblingunit is described in the third embodiment, which will not be describedin this embodiment.

That is, the inner electrode material vibrating disk 223, the insulatingring material vibrating disk 221 and the outer electrode materialvibrating disk 222 are sequentially arranged in the direction ofrotation of the rotating disk 201.

Further, the second grasping arm 213, the insulating ring picking arm211 and the first grasping arm 212 are sequentially arranged in thedirection of rotation of the rotating disk.

In this embodiment, for achieving the automatic assembly of the atomizerelectrode connector or the battery rod electrode connector, referring toFIG. 15, in this arrangement, a cylindrical magnetic column 151 made ofmagnetic material is provided inside the material fixing seat 202, andthe diameter of the magnetic column 151 is equal to the diameter of theinner electrode 303; and a subsidiary magnetic column 152 is arranged ata top end of the magnetic column 151, and the subsidiary magnetic column152 is configured to match with the hollow portion of the innerelectrode 303.

The specific assembling process of the assembling apparatus implementingthe third arrangement is described as follows.

In the case that a sensor, located in a first material sensing area onthe inner electrode material guide rail 233, senses the inner electrode303, the sensor generates a triggering signal correspondingly.

It is to be noted that, the manner for placing the material on the firstmaterial sensing area in this arrangement is the same as that in thefirst arrangement.

The controller generates a control signal according to the triggeringsignal, to control the second grasping arm 213 to grasp the innerelectrode 303, and sleeve the inner electrode on the subsidiary magneticcolumn 152 through the hollow portion of the inner electrode.

The specific manner of the second grasping arm 213 grasping the innerelectrode 303 may refer to the third embodiment.

The material is made of metal, and the material made of metal isassembled onto a material fixing seat 202 in this arrangement. Since themagnetic column 151 is provided inside the material fixing seat 202, thematerial fixing seat 202 can fix the material more accurately, therebyimproving the precision in the assembling process.

Further since the diameter of the subsidiary magnetic column 152 of themagnetic column 151 is equal to the diameter of the hollow portion ofthe inner electrode, the inner electrode 303 may be sleeved on thesubsidiary magnetic column 152 firmly, and further the inner electrode303 may be arranged on the material fixing seat 202 firmly.

The controller controls the second grasping arm 213 to return to itsoriginal position, to allow the second grasping arm 213 to pick up theinner electrode 303 again.

The controller presets a moving angle, to allow the controller tocontrol the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to the preset movingangle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, in which the insulatingring is inserted, to a position below the insulating ring picking arm211.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to pick upthe insulating ring 302, and sleeve the picked-up insulating ring 302 onthe inner electrode 303, to fixedly arrange the insulating ring 302 onthe material fixing seat 202.

The specific picking-up process of the insulating ring picking arm 211is described in the third embodiment.

The controller controls the insulating ring picking arm 211 to return toits original position, to allow the insulating ring picking arm 211 topick up the insulating ring 302 again.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the material fixing seat 202, in whichthe insulating ring 302 is inserted, to a position below the firstpressing arm 801.

The first pressing arm 801 is configured to press the inner electrode303 and the insulating ring 302 located on the material fixing seat 202,to fix the inner electrode 303 with respect to the insulating ring 302.

The first pressing arm 801 is arranged downstream the insulating ringpicking arm 211 along the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to provide a first support columnunder the rotating disk 201, to avoid a situation that when the firstpressing arm 801 presses the inner electrode 303 and the insulating ring302 located on the material fixing seat 202, the rotating disk 201inclines when subjected to a force from the first pressing arm 801,which may damage the rotating disk 201.

More preferably, in this embodiment, the position of the first supportcolumn 802 and the position of the first pressing arm 801 arecorresponding to each other, as shown in FIG. 11.

After a preset duration elapses, in the case that the controllerdetermines that the inner electrode 303 and the insulating ring 302 arefixed with respect to each other, the controller controls the firstsupport column 802 and the first pressing arm 801 to return torespective original positions.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to move the material fixing seat 202, in which theinsulating ring 302 is inserted, to a position below the first graspingarm 212.

The controller controls the first grasping arm 212 to sleeve the outerelectrode 301 on the insulating ring 302 to form an electrode connectorof the electronic cigarette.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette to a position below a fourth pressing arm 505.

That is, the second grasping arm 213, the insulating ring picking arm211, the first grasping arm 212 and the fourth pressing arm 505 aresequentially arranged along the direction of rotation of the rotatingdisk.

The controller controls the fourth pressing arm 505 to press thematerial fixing seat 202, to fix the outer electrode 301, the innerelectrode 303 and the insulating ring 302 located on the material fixingseat 202 with respect to each other.

Preferably, in this arrangement, a jacking driving mechanism is providedinside the material fixing seat 202 and is connected to the magneticcolumn 501. The jacking driving mechanism is also connected to thecontroller, and the controller is configured to control the magneticcolumn 501 to rise up by the jacking driving mechanism, to allow thefourth pressing arm 505 and the magnetic column 501 moving towards eachother to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.Thus, the outer electrode 301, the inner electrode 303 and theinsulating ring 302 of the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette can be fixed with respect to each other more stably.

The controller controls the rotating disk 201 to rotate according to thepreset moving angle, to rotate the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette to a position below the fourth grasping arm 805.

The controller controls the fourth grasping arm 805 to grasp the pressedelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the materialfixing seat 202, and place the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette on the first discharge guide rail 806.

The first discharge guide rail 806 and the fourth grasping arm 805 aredescribed in the first arrangement.

A sensor is provided in the second material sensing area of the firstdischarge guide rail 806, and the sensor generates a triggering signalcorrespondingly in the case that the sensor senses that the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is located in the second materialsensing area.

The controller controls the soldering arm 807 to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette according to the triggeringsignal.

The soldering arm 807 and the first discharge guide rail 806 aredescribed in the first arrangement.

The specific structures of the assembling apparatus are described indetail in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, and theassembling method for assembling the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is described in detail hereinafter in the followingfifth embodiment.

The assembling method in the fifth embodiment may include steps 1801 to1807.

Step 1801 may include sensing, by a sensor, whether each of aninsulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in afirst material sensing area.

Step 1802 may include generating, by the sensor, a first triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulating ring islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1803 may include controlling, by a controller, an insulating ringpicking arm according to the first triggering signal to pick up theinsulating ring and place the insulating ring on a material fixing seat.

Multiple material fixing seats are arranged on the rotating disk andsurrounding the rotating disk.

Step 1804 may include generating, by the sensor, a second triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the outer electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1805 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm according to the second triggering signal to pick up the outerelectrode and place the outer electrode on the material fixing seat.

Step 1806 may include generating, by the sensor, a third triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the inner electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1807 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm according to the third triggering signal to grasp the innerelectrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixing seat.

The manner for achieving the assembling method in this embodiment isdescribed in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, which willnot be described in this embodiment.

A sixth embodiment is provided according to the present application andis described in detail on the basis of the assembling method of thefirst kind of assembling apparatus in the fourth embodiment. The firstkind of assembling apparatus is described in the fourth embodiment.

The assembling method may include steps 1901 to 1933.

Step 1901 may include sensing, by a sensor, whether each of aninsulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in afirst material sensing area.

Step 1902 may include generating, by the sensor, a first triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulating ring islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1903 may include controlling, by a controller, a top end of aninsulating ring picking arm according to the first triggering signal tomove to a position above the insulating ring located in the firstmaterial sensing area.

Step 1904 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to move downwards in a direction towards the insulatingring, to press the needle into a hollow portion of the insulating ring.

Step 1905 may include controlling, by the controller, an abutting sleeveto move downwards in a direction towards the insulating ring in the casethat the controller determines that the insulating ring is sleeved onthe material fixing seat by the insulating ring picking arm, till theneedle abuts against the material fixing seat, to disengage the needlefrom the insulating ring.

Step 1906 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to return to its original position.

Step 1907 may include controlling, by the controller, a rotating disk bya rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate a target materialfixing seat to a position below a first grasping arm.

That is, in the case that the controller determines that the insulatingring is placed on the target material fixing seat, the controllercontrols the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate, till the target material fixing seat rotates to a position belowthe first grasping arm.

Step 1908 may include generating, by the sensor, a second triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the outer electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1909 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm according to the second triggering signal to move to a positionabove the outer electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 1910 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to move downwards in a direction towards the outer electrode, tomove first clamping sub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollowportion of the outer electrode.

Step 1911 may include controlling, by the controller, multiple firstclamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from eachother, to clamp the outer electrode.

Step 1912 may include controlling, by the controller, of the multiplefirst clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the first grasping arm, to disengage the outer electrodefrom the first grasping arm.

Step 1913 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to return to its original position.

Step 1914 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the targetmaterial fixing seat to a position below a first pressing arm.

That is, in the case that the controller determines that the outerelectrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, the controllercontrols the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate, till the target material fixing seat rotates to the positionbelow the first pressing arm.

Step 1915 may include controlling, by the controller, the first pressingarm to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on thetarget material fixing seat.

While controlling the first pressing arm to press the outer electrodeand the insulating ring, the controller also controls the first supportcolumn to rise up, to allow the first pressing arm and the first supportcolumn moving towards each other to jointly press and fix the outerelectrode and the insulating ring.

The first support column is located under the rotating disk at aposition corresponding to the first pressing arm.

Step 1916 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode and the insulating ringhas been pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seat toa position below a third grasping arm.

Step 1917 may include controlling, by the controller, the third graspingarm to lift up the outer electrode and the insulating ring located onthe target material fixing seat and fixed with respect to each other.

Step 1918 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode and the insulating ringare lifted.

Step 1919 may include controlling, by the controller, the grasped outerelectrode and insulating ring by the third grasping arm to move linearlyto a preset position.

Step 1920 may include generating, by the sensor, a third triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the inner electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 1921 may include controlling, by the controller, a second graspingarm according to the third triggering signal to move to a position abovethe inner electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 1922 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to move downwards in a direction towards the innerelectrode, to move second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping armto move into a hollow portion of the inner electrode.

Step 1923 may include controlling, by the controller, of the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms by the clamping driving mechanism to move awayfrom each other to clamp the inner electrode.

Step 1924 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrodefrom the second grasping arm.

Step 1925 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to return to its original position.

Step 1926 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to thepreset position.

Step 1927 may include controlling, by the controller, the third graspingarm to sleeve the outer electrode and the insulating ring on the targetmaterial fixing seat, on which the inner electrode is sleeved, to forman electrode connector of an electronic cigarette.

Step 1928 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette located on the target material fixing seat is pressed tightly,to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below a secondpressing arm.

Step 1929 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondpressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette located on the target material fixing seat.

While controlling the second pressing arm to press the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette, the controller also controls thesecond support column to rise up, to allow the second pressing arm andthe second support column moving towards each other to jointly press andfix the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.

The second support column is located under the rotating disk at aposition corresponding to the second pressing arm.

Step 1930 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the targetmaterial fixing seat, on which the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is placed, to a position below a fourth graspingarm.

Step 1931 may include controlling, by the controller, the fourthgrasping arm to grasp the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigaretteon a first discharge guide rail.

Step 1932 may include generating, by a sensor located on the firstdischarge guide rail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that thesensor determines that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette is located in a second material sensing area. The secondmaterial sensing area is below the soldering arm.

Step 1933 may include controlling, by the controller, the soldering armaccording to the fourth triggering signal to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette.

A seventh embodiment is described in detail on the basis of theassembling method of the third kind of assembling apparatus of thefourth embodiment. The third kind of assembling apparatus is describedin the fourth embodiment.

The assembling method in the seventh embodiment includes steps 2001 to2026.

Step 2001 may include sensing, by a sensor, whether each of aninsulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in afirst material sensing area.

Step 2002 may include generating, by the sensor, a third triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the inner electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2003 may include controlling, by the controller, a second graspingarm according to the third triggering signal to move to a position abovethe inner electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 2004 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to move downwards in a direction towards the innerelectrode, to move second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping arminto a hollow portion of the inner electrode.

Step 2005 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms by the clamping driving mechanism to move awayfrom each other to clamp the inner electrode.

Step 2006 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrodefrom the second grasping arm.

Step 2007 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to return to its original position.

Step 2008 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on a targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below an insulating ring picking arm.

Step 2009 may include generating, by the sensor, a first triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulating ring islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2010 may include controlling, by the controller, a top end of theinsulating ring picking arm according to the triggering signal to moveto a position above the insulating ring located in the first materialsensing area.

Step 2011 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to move downwards in a direction towards the insulatingring, to press a needle into a hollow portion of the insulating ring.

Step 2012 may include controlling, by the controller, an abutting sleeveto move downwards in a direction towards the insulating ring in the casethat the controller determines that the insulating ring is sleeved onthe material fixing seat by the insulating ring picking arm, till theneedle abuts against the material fixing seat, to disengage the needlefrom the insulating ring.

Step 2013 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to return to its original position.

Step 2014 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below a first grasping arm.

Step 2015 may include generating, by the sensor, a second triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the outer electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2016 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm according to the triggering signal to move to a position above theouter electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 2017 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to move downwards in a direction towards the outer electrode, tomove first clamping sub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollowportion of the outer electrode.

Step 2018 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiple firstclamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from eachother to clamp the outer electrode.

Step 2019 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiple firstclamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the first grasping arm, to disengage the outer electrodefrom the first grasping arm.

Step 2020 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to return to its original position.

Step 2021 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below a fourth pressing arm.

Step 2022 may include controlling, by the controller, the fourthpressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette.

While controlling the fourth pressing arm to press the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette, the controller also controls amagnetic column of the target material fixing seat to rise up, to allowthe fourth pressing arm and the magnetic column moving towards eachother to jointly press the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette. The magnetic column is located inside the material fixingseat, and the diameter of the magnetic column is equal to the diameterof the inner electrode.

Step 2023 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the targetmaterial fixing seat, on which the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is placed, to a position below a fourth graspingarm.

Step 2024 may include controlling, by the controller, the fourthgrasping arm to grasp the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigaretteon a first discharge guide rail.

Step 2025 may include generating, by a sensor located on the firstdischarge guide rail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that thesensor determines that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette is located in a second material sensing area. The secondmaterial sensing area is located below a soldering arm.

Step 2026 may include controlling, by the controller, the soldering armaccording to the fourth triggering signal to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette.

An eighth embodiment is described in detail on the basis of theassembling method of the second kind of assembling apparatus of thefourth embodiment. The second kind of assembling apparatus is describedin detail in the fourth embodiment.

The assembling method in the eighth embodiment includes steps 2101 to2124.

Step 2101 may include sensing, by a sensor, whether each of aninsulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in afirst material sensing area.

Step 2102 may include generating, by the sensor, a second triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the outer electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2103 may include controlling, by the controller, a first graspingarm according to the second triggering signal to move a position abovethe outer electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 2104 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to move downwards in a direction towards the outer electrode, tomove first clamping sub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollowportion of the outer electrode.

Step 2105 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiple firstclamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from eachother to clamp the outer electrode.

Step 2106 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiple firstclamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the first grasping arm, to disengage the outer electrodefrom the first grasping arm.

Step 2107 may include controlling, by the controller, the first graspingarm to return to its original position.

Step 2108 may include controlling, by the controller, a rotating disk bya rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controllerdetermines that the outer electrode is placed on a target materialfixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a positionbelow the insulating ring picking arm.

Step 2109 may include generating, by the sensor, a first triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulating ring islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2110 may include controlling, by the controller, a top end of theinsulating ring picking arm according to the first triggering signal tomove to a position above the insulating ring located in the firstmaterial sensing area.

Step 2111 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to move downwards in a direction towards the insulatingring, to press a needle into a hollow portion of the insulating ring.

Step 2112 may include controlling, by the controller, an abutting sleeveto move downwards in a direction towards the insulating ring in the casethat the controller determines that the insulating ring is sleeved onthe material fixing seat by the insulating ring picking arm, till theneedle abuts against the material fixing seat, to disengage the needlefrom the insulating ring.

Step 2113 may include controlling, by the controller, the insulatingring picking arm to return to its original position.

Step 2114 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below a second grasping arm.

Step 2115 may include generating, by the sensor, a third triggeringsignal in the case that the sensor senses that the inner electrode islocated in the first material sensing area.

Step 2116 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm according to the triggering signal to move to a positionabove the inner electrode located in the first material sensing area.

Step 2117 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to move downwards in a direction towards the innerelectrode, to move second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping arminto a hollow portion of the inner electrode.

Step 2118 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move awayfrom each other to clamp the inner electrode.

Step 2119 may include controlling, by the controller, the multiplesecond clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the materialfixing seat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrodefrom the second grasping arm.

Step 2120 may include controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to return to its original position.

Step 2121 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below a third pressing arm.

Step 2122 may include controlling, by the controller, the third pressingarm to press the inner electrode, the insulating ring and the outerelectrode to form an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette.

Step 2123 may include controlling, by the controller, the rotating diskby the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette is pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seatto a position below a fifth grasping arm.

Step 2124 may include controlling, by the controller, the fifth graspingarm to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, androtate the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180degrees to be soldered.

Step 2125 may include controlling, by the controller, the fifth graspingarm to rotate the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180degrees again in the case that the controller determines that thesoldering of the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette isaccomplished, and place the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette on a second discharge guide rail.

The apparatus and method for assembling the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette according to the present application are describedin detail hereinbefore. The principle and the embodiments of the presentapplication are illustrated herein by specific examples. The abovedescription of examples is only intended to help the understanding ofthe method and idea of the present application. It should be noted that,for the person skilled in the art, a few of modifications andimprovements may be made to the present application without departingfrom the principle of the present application, and these modificationsand improvements are also deemed to fall into the scope of the presentapplication defined by the claims.

1. An assembling apparatus for assembling an electrode connector of anelectronic cigarette, comprising a rotatable rotating disk, a rotatingdisk driving device, material fixing seats, a first material sensingarea, a sensor, a material picking arm and a controller; wherein thematerial fixing seats are arranged on the rotating disk and surroundingthe rotating disk; the rotating disk is drivably connected to therotating disk driving device, to allow the rotating disk driving deviceto drive the rotating disk to rotate; the sensor is provided in thefirst material sensing area, to allow the sensor to generate atriggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that a material islocated in the first material sensing area; and the controller iselectrically connected to each of the sensor, the material picking arm,and the rotating disk driving device, to allow the controller to controlthe material picking arm according to the triggering signal to pick upthe material and place the material on the material fixing seat.
 2. Theassembling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a materialvibrating disk, on which the material is to be placed, and a materialguide rail; wherein, the material vibrating disk is configured tovibrate and deliver the material, to allow the material to move to thematerial guide rail in a preset state, and the preset state of thematerial is a state that an axis of a hollow portion of each material isperpendicular to a plane on which the material vibrating disk islocated; the material guide rail is arranged between the materialvibrating disk and the rotating disk, and is configured to continue todeliver the material delivered by the material vibrating disk in adirection towards the rotating disk; the first material sensing area islocated at an end, close to the rotating disk, of the material guiderail; and the material guide rail is provided with a material blockingvalve configured to fix the material in the first material sensing area.3. The assembling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the materialcomprises an outer electrode, an inner electrode configured to beinserted into the outer electrode, and an insulating ring configured tobe inserted between the outer electrode and the inner electrode; thematerial vibrating disk comprises an outer electrode material vibratingdisk on which the outer electrode is to be placed, an insulating ringmaterial vibrating disk on which the insulating ring is to be placed,and an inner electrode material vibrating disk on which the innerelectrode is to be placed; the material guide rail comprises an outerelectrode material guide rail configured to cooperate with the outerelectrode material vibrating disk, an insulating ring material guiderail configured to cooperate with the insulating ring material vibratingdisk, and an inner electrode material guide rail configured to cooperatewith the inner electrode material vibrating disk; and the materialpicking arm comprises an insulating ring picking arm, a first graspingarm configured to grasp the outer electrode, and a second grasping armconfigured to grasp the inner electrode.
 4. The assembling apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein, a top end of the insulating ring pickingarm is provided with an abutting sleeve, and a needle made of an elasticmaterial, the needle is insertedly connected to the abutting sleeve andis movable with respect to the abutting sleeve, the diameter of theneedle is larger than the diameter of a hollow portion of the insulatingring, to allow the needle to be in interference fit with the hollowportion of the insulating ring in the case that the needle is pressedinto the hollow portion of the insulating ring when the insulating ringpicking arm picks up the insulating ring; and an elastic mechanism isarranged inside the abutting sleeve, and is connected to each of theabutting sleeve and the needle, to allow the needle to move towards theelastic mechanism in the case that the needle abuts against the materialfixing seat, till the needle is disengaged from the insulating ring. 5.The assembling apparatus according to the claim 3, wherein, at least twoclamping sub-arms in cooperation with each other are extending from atop end of each of the first grasping arm and the second grasping arm;and a clamping driving mechanism is arranged at an end of each of thefirst grasping arm and the second grasping arm and is connected to theplurality of respective clamping sub-arms, and the clamping drivingmechanism is connected to the controller, to allow the clamping drivingmechanism, under the control of the controller, to control the pluralityof respective clamping sub-arms to move towards each other or away fromeach other, to allow the clamping sub-arms moving away from each otherto clamp the material.
 6. The assembling apparatus according to claim 3,wherein, the insulating ring material vibrating disk, the outerelectrode material vibrating disk and the inner electrode materialvibrating disk are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation ofthe rotating disk; and the insulating ring picking arm, the firstgrasping arm and the second grasping arm are sequentially arranged in adirection of rotation of the rotating disk.
 7. The assembling apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein, a first sub-seat, a second sub-seat and athird sub-seat are coaxially and fixedly provided on the material fixingseat, and are arranged sequentially in a direction away from therotating disk; each of the first sub-seat, the second sub-seat and thethird sub-seat has a cylindrical shape, and the diameters of the firstsub-seat, the second sub-seat and the third sub-seat are reduced inorder; the second sub-seat is configured to match with a hollow portionof the insulating ring, to allow the insulating ring picking arm tosleeve the insulating ring on the second sub-seat; the first sub-seat isconfigured to match with a hollow portion of the outer electrode, toallow the first grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode on the firstsub-seat; and the third sub-seat is configured to match with a hollowportion of the inner electrode, to allow the second grasping arm tosleeve the inner electrode on the third sub-seat.
 8. The assemblingapparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a first pressing armconfigured to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring locatedon the material fixing seat, to allow the outer electrode and theinsulating ring to be fixed with respect to each other; a third graspingarm configured to lift up the outer electrode and the insulating ringlocated on the material fixing seat and fixed with respect to eachother, to allow the outer electrode and the insulating ring to move to apreset position, and the third grasping arm further configured to sleevethe outer electrode and the insulating ring, both of which has moved tothe preset position, on the material fixing seat on which the innerelectrode is sleeved, to form the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette; and a second pressing arm configured to press the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette; wherein the insulating ringpicking arm, the first grasping arm, the first pressing arm, the thirdgrasping arm, the second grasping arm, and the second pressing arm aresequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk;and the preset position is between the second grasping arm and thesecond pressing arm in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.9. The assembling apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising afirst support column and a second support column; wherein, each of thefirst support column and the second support column is arranged under therotating disk, and the first support column is located at a positioncorresponding to the first pressing arm, and the second support columnis located a position corresponding to the second pressing arm; and thefirst support column is configured to push the rotating disk upwards tobalance the rotating disk in the case that the material fixing seatrotates to a position below the first pressing arm, and the secondsupport column is configured to push the rotating disk upwards tobalance the rotating disk in the case that the material fixing seatrotates to a position below the second pressing arm.
 10. The assemblingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein, the inner electrode materialvibrating disk, the insulating ring material vibrating disk, and theouter electrode material vibrating disk are sequentially arranged in adirection of rotation of the rotating disk; and the second grasping arm,the insulating ring picking arm and the first grasping arm aresequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.11. The assembling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein acylindrical magnetic column made of magnetic material is provided insidethe material fixing seat, and the diameter of the magnetic column isequal to the diameter of the inner electrode; and a subsidiary magneticcolumn is arranged at a top end of the magnetic column and is configuredto match with a hollow portion of the inner electrode, to allow thesecond grasping arm to sleeve the inner electrode on the subsidiarymagnetic column, to further allow the insulating ring picking arm tosleeve the insulating ring on the inner electrode, and to further allowthe first grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode on the insulatingring, to form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette. 12.The assembling apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: afourth pressing arm configured to press the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette; wherein, the second grasping arm, the insulatingring picking arm, the first grasping arm and the fourth pressing arm aresequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk.13. The assembling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, a jackingdriving mechanism is provided inside the material fixing seat and isconnected to the magnetic column, and the jacking driving mechanism isfurther connected to the controller, to allow the controller to controlthe magnetic column by the jacking driving mechanism to rise up, tofurther allow the fourth pressing arm and the magnetic column movingtowards each other to jointly press the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette.
 14. The assembling apparatus according to claim 8,further comprising a fourth grasping arm configured to grasp theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the materialfixing seat, and place the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette on a first discharge guide rail; wherein a second materialsensing area is provided on the first discharge guide rail, and locatedbelow a soldering arm configured to solder the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette; a sensor is provided in the second materialsensing area, and is configured to generate a triggering signal in thecase that the sensor senses that the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is located in the second material sensing area; andthe controller is further electrically connected to each of thesoldering arm and the sensor, to allow the controller to control thesoldering arm according to the triggering signal to solder the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette.
 15. The assembling apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising a fourth grasping armconfigured to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettelocated on the material fixing seat, and place the electrode connectorof the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail; wherein asecond material sensing area is provided on the first discharge guiderail, and located below a soldering arm configured to solder theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette; a sensor is provided inthe second material sensing area, and is configured to generate atriggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is located in the second materialsensing area; and the controller is further electrically connected toeach of the soldering arm and the sensor, to allow the controller tocontrol the soldering arm according to the triggering signal to solderthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.
 16. The assemblingapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a vibrating feeder,wherein the material guide rail is arranged on the vibrating feeder, andthe horizontal plane on which an end, away from the rotating disk, ofthe material guide rail is higher than the horizontal plane on which anend, close to the rotating disk, of the material guide rail.
 17. Theassembling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, the outer electrodematerial vibrating disk, the insulating ring material vibrating disk,and the inner electrode material vibrating disk are sequentiallyarranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and the firstgrasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm and the second graspingarm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of therotating disk.
 18. The assembling apparatus according to claim 17,wherein, the material fixing seat is provided with an accommodatingcircular ring, to allow the first grasping arm to insertedly fix thegrasped outer electrode into the accommodating circular ring, to furtherallow the outer electrode to be fixedly arranged on the material fixingseat, to further allow the insulating ring picking arm to insert theinsulating ring into a hollow portion of the outer electrode located onthe material fixing seat, and to further allow the second grasping armto insert the inner electrode into a hollow portion of the insulatingring located on the material fixing seat.
 19. The assembling apparatusaccording to claim 17, further comprising: a third pressing armconfigured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettelocated on the material fixing seat; and a fifth grasping arm configuredto grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotatethe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to besoldered, and further rotate the soldered electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette by 180 degrees to place the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette on a second discharge guide rail; wherein thefirst grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the second graspingarm, the third pressing arm, and the fifth grasping arm are sequentiallyarranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.
 20. Anassembling method for assembling an electrode connector of an electroniccigarette, comprising: sensing, by a sensor, whether each of aninsulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in afirst material sensing area; generating, by the sensor, a firsttriggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulatingring is located in the first material sensing area; controlling, by acontroller, an insulating ring picking arm according to the firsttriggering signal to pick up the insulating ring and place theinsulating ring on a material fixing seat, wherein multiple materialfixing seats are arranged on a rotating disk and surrounding therotating disk; generating, by the sensor, a second triggering signal inthe case that the sensor senses the outer electrode is located in thefirst material sensing area; controlling, by the controller, a firstgrasping arm according to the second triggering signal to pick up theouter electrode and place the outer electrode on the material fixingseat; generating, by the sensor, a third triggering signal in the casethat the sensor senses that the inner electrode is located in the firstmaterial sensing area; and controlling, by the controller, a secondgrasping arm according to the third triggering signal to pick up theinner electrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixingseat.
 21. The assembling method according to claim 20, whereincontrolling, by a controller, an insulating ring picking arm accordingto the first triggering signal to pick up the insulating ring and placethe insulating ring on a material fixing seat comprises: controlling, bythe controller, a top end of the insulating ring picking arm accordingto the first triggering signal to move to a position above theinsulating ring located in the first material sensing area; controlling,by the controller, the insulating ring picking arm to move downwards ina direction towards the insulating ring, to press a needle into a hollowportion of the insulating ring; controlling, by the controller, anabutting sleeve to move downwards in a direction towards the insulatingring in the case that the controller determines that the insulating ringis sleeved on the material fixing seat by the insulating ring pickingarm, till the needle abuts against the material fixing seat, todisengage the needle from the insulating ring; and controlling, by thecontroller, the insulating ring picking arm to return to its originalposition.
 22. The assembling method according to claim 20, whereincontrolling, by the controller, a first grasping arm according to thesecond triggering signal to pick up the outer electrode and place theouter electrode on the material fixing seat comprises: controlling, bythe controller, the first grasping arm according to the secondtriggering signal to move to a position above the outer electrodelocated in the first material sensing area; controlling, by thecontroller, the first grasping arm to move downwards in a directiontowards the outer electrode, to move a plurality of first clampingsub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollow portion of the outerelectrode; controlling, by the controller, the plurality of firstclamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from eachother, to clamp the outer electrode; controlling, by the controller, theplurality of first clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in thecase that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placedon the material fixing seat by the first grasping arm, to disengage theouter electrode from the first grasping arm; and controlling, by thecontroller, the first grasping arm to return to its original position.23. The assembling method according to claim 20, wherein controlling, bythe controller, a second grasping arm according to the third triggeringsignal to pick up the inner electrode and place the inner electrode onthe material fixing seat comprises: controlling, by the controller, thesecond grasping arm according to the third triggering signal to move toa position above the inner electrode located in the first materialsensing area; controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm tomove downwards in a direction towards the inner electrode, to move aplurality of second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping arm into ahollow portion of the inner electrode; controlling, by the controller,the plurality of second clamping sub-arms by a clamping drivingmechanism to move away from each other, to clamp the inner electrode;controlling, by the controller, the plurality of second clampingsub-arms to move towards each other in the case that the controllerdetermines that the inner electrode is placed on the material fixingseat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrode fromthe second grasping arm; and controlling, by the controller, the secondgrasping arm to return to its original position.
 24. The assemblingmethod according to claim 20, wherein the insulating ring picking arm,the first grasping arm, a first pressing arm, a third grasping arm, thesecond grasping arm and a second pressing arm are sequentially arrangedin a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and the assemblingmethod further comprises: controlling, by the controller, the rotatingdisk by a rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that thecontroller determines that the insulating ring is placed on a targetmaterial fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to aposition below the first grasping arm; controlling, by the controller,the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in thecase that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placedon the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixingseat to a position below the first pressing arm; controlling, by thecontroller, the first pressing arm to press the outer electrode and theinsulating ring located on the target material fixing seat; controlling,by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving deviceto rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outerelectrode and the insulating ring is pressed together, to rotate thetarget material fixing seat to a position below the third grasping arm;controlling, by the controller, the third grasping arm to lift up theouter electrode and the insulating ring located on the target materialfixing seat and fixed with respect to each other; controlling, by thecontroller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate in the case that the controller determines that the outerelectrode and the insulating ring are lifted; controlling, by thecontroller, the grasped outer electrode and insulating ring by the thirdgrasping arm to move linearly to a preset position; controlling, by thecontroller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate in the case that the controller determines that the innerelectrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate thetarget material fixing seat to the preset position; controlling, by thecontroller, the third grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode and theinsulating ring on the target material fixing seat on which the innerelectrode is sleeved, to form the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette; controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by therotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controllerdetermines that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettelocated on the target material fixing seat is pressed together, torotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the secondpressing arm; and controlling, by the controller, the second pressingarm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette locatedon the target material fixing seat.
 25. The assembling method accordingto claim 24, wherein, controlling, by the controller, the first pressingarm to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on thetarget material fixing seat comprises: while controlling, by thecontroller, the first pressing arm to press the outer electrode and theinsulating ring, further controlling, by the controller, a first supportcolumn to rise up, to allow the first pressing arm and the first supportcolumn moving towards each other to press and fix the outer electrodeand the insulating ring, wherein the first support column is locatedunder the rotating disk at a position corresponding to the firstpressing arm; controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm topress the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on thetarget material fixing seat comprises: while controlling, by thecontroller, the second pressing arm to press the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette, further controlling, by the controller, asecond support column to rise up, to allow the second pressing arm andthe second support column moving towards each other to press and fix theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette, wherein the secondsupport column is located under the rotating disk at a positioncorresponding to the second pressing arm.
 26. The assembling methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the second grasping arm, the insulatingring picking arm, the first grasping arm and a fourth pressing arm aresequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;the assembling method further comprises: controlling, by the controller,the rotating disk by a rotating disk driving device to rotate in thecase that the controller determines that the inner electrode is placedon a target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixingseat to a position below the insulating ring picking arm; controlling,by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving deviceto rotate in the case that the controller determines that the insulatingring is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the targetmaterial fixing seat to a position below the first grasping arm;controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating diskdriving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines thatthe outer electrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, torotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the fourthpressing arm; and controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressingarm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette. 27.The assembling method according to claim 26, wherein controlling, by thecontroller, the fourth pressing arm to press the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette comprises: while controlling, by thecontroller, the fourth pressing arm to press the electrode connector ofthe electronic cigarette, further controlling, by the controller, amagnetic column of the target material fixing seat to rise up, to allowthe fourth pressing arm and the magnetic column moving towards eachother to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarettetogether, wherein the magnetic column is located inside the materialfixing seat, and the diameter of the magnetic column is equal to thediameter of the inner electrode.
 28. The assembling method according toclaim 25, further comprising: controlling, by the controller, therotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotatethe target material fixing seat, on which the pressed electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is placed, to a position below thefourth grasping arm; controlling, by the controller, the fourth graspingarm to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, andplace the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a firstdischarge guide rail; generating, by a sensor located on the firstdischarge guide rail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that thesensor determines that the electrode connector of the electroniccigarette is located in a second material sensing area, wherein thesecond material sensing area is located below a soldering arm; andcontrolling, by the controller, the soldering arm according to thefourth triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette.
 29. The assembling method according to claim 26,further comprising: controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk bythe rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the targetmaterial fixing seat, on which the pressed electrode connector of theelectronic cigarette is placed, to a position below the fourth graspingarm; controlling, by the controller, the fourth grasping arm to graspthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, and place theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a first dischargeguide rail; generating, by a sensor located on the first discharge guiderail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that the sensor determinesthat the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in asecond material sensing area, wherein the second material sensing areais located below a soldering arm; and controlling, by the controller,the soldering arm according to the fourth triggering signal to solderthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.
 30. The assemblingmethod according to claim 20, wherein the first grasping arm, theinsulating ring picking arm, the second grasping arm, a third pressingarm, and a fifth grasping arm are sequentially arranged along adirection of rotation of the rotating disk; the assembling methodfurther comprises: controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk bya rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controllerdetermines that the outer electrode is placed on a target materialfixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a positionbelow the insulating ring picking arm; controlling, by the controller,the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in thecase that the controller determines that the insulating ring is placedon the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixingseat to a position below the second grasping arm; controlling, by thecontroller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate in the case that the controller determines that the innerelectrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate thetarget material fixing seat to a position below the third pressing arm;controlling, by the controller, the third pressing arm to press theinner electrode, the insulating ring and the outer electrode, to formthe electrode connector of the electronic cigarette; controlling, by thecontroller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device torotate in the case that the controller determines that the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is pressed together, to rotate thetarget material fixing seat to a position below the fifth grasping arm;controlling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to grasp theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotate the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to be soldered; andcontrolling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to rotate theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees in thecase that the controller determines that the soldering of the electrodeconnector of the electronic cigarette is finished, and place theelectrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a second dischargeguide rail.